Device for holding photographic prints while being cut.



No. 684,I42. Patented Oct. 8, 190i. G. B. WARD. DEVICE FOR HOLDINGPHOTOGRAPI-IIG PRINTS WHILE BEING GUT.

(Application filed Nov. 14, 1900.)

(No Model.)

' Putnam-Na, W ASHINUTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. IVARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO I HERBERTB. SEMMELMEYER, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRlNTS WHILE BEING CUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,142, dated October8, 1901. Application filed November 14, 1900. Serial No. 36,461. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. \VARD, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvcments in Devices for Holding Photographic Prints While Being Cut; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to a novel device designed for photographers useto hold photographic prints while they are being cut or trimmed to thedesired conformation preparatory to mounting the same.

A device embodying my invention embraces generally a base upon which theprints are supported while being cut and means for securing to said basea pattern-plate used in connection with a cutting-tool to give a desiredform, such as a round or oval, to the print being cut.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device made inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectionthereof with the pattern-plate swung upwardly.

As shown in said drawings, A designates a generally rectangularbase-block, which may be made of wood or like material; B, apatternplate, and O a hinged clamp by means of which the pattern-platemay be united by a hinged or pivotal connection to the base in a mannerto swing vertically toward and away from the cutting-surface of the baseand whereby the print may be held by being clamped between thepattern-plate and the base. Said plate is provided with apattern-opening B of the shape which it is desired to give to thefinished print. As herein shown said patternopening is oval in form, butmay be varied to produce different-shaped prints. The inner edge of saidplate, surrounding said opening, constitutes a guide to direct thecutting tool,which may be a knife or revolving cutter.

D D designate clasps which are adapted to engage the free edge of thepattern-plate to hold the same in its clamping position. Said claspsdesirably engage the pattern-plate with a yielding pressure and for thispurpose are made of spring metal and pivoted to the block to swi ngin ahorizontal plane toward and from the pattern-plate. Obviously the sameyielding efiect would be produced by placing the clasps under theinfluence of springs. Two clasps are herein shown, one engaging the pat-6o tern-plate to hold it inits clamping position and the other swungoutwardly away from said plate. In practice a number of patternplates ofdiderent sizes, such as are commonly supplied for the purpose stated,will he used 6 in connection with the base and its hinged clamp, andeither of said plates may be inserted in the said clamp, as desired. Oneof the clasps C is ample to hold the smaller patternplate in itsclamping position; but for the larger plates two clasps will desirablybe used, one engaging the plate near each corner thereof. The margins ofsaid clasps, at the ends thereof, are curved upwardly to permit the sameto slide readily over the plate.

The hinged clamp O illustrated is like a butt-hinge, one leaf 0 of whichis permanently attached to the edge of the block A and the other leaf 0of which engages the adjacent edge of the pattern-plate and constitutesone of a pair of clamping members, between which the edge of thepattern-plate is clamped. The other clamping member in the device shownconsists of a loose plate 0 which is connected with the leaf 0 of thehinge by means of clamping studs 0 attached rigidly tothe loose plate 0which extend through apertures in the adjacent leaf of the hinge, andare provided outside of said leaf with screwthreaded thumb-nuts, bywhich said leaf and 0 plate are clamped together. In order to insure theproper clamping engagement of the outer edges of the clamping memberswith the pattern plate, the rear edge of the loose clampingplate isprovided with a flange c 5 which is directed toward and engages theinner surface of the leaf 0 of the hinge. This construction acts tobring the said plate substantially parallel with the leaf of the hinge,I so as'to increase the bearing-surface between the clamping-plate andpattern-plate.

The cutting-surface of the base A is made shiftable in order to preventsaid surface from becoming quickly injured by repeated contacts of thecutting-tool with the same parts thereof. In this instance saidcuttingsurface consists of removable and shiftable plate E, upon whichthe print to be cut or formed is laid. Said plate is desirably made ofsoft metal, such as zinc or the like, and is supported directly upon ayielding layer or pad F of rubber or like material. Said yielding pad Fis of a size slightly greater than the largest size of pattern-opening Bof the plate B to be used therewith.

In order to provide means for holding the cutt-ing-plateE in place, saidplate is provided on one edge thereof with adownturned flange e, whichis adapted to engage either one'of two grooves a in the top surface ofthe base at either side of the cutting-bed. Preferably and as hereinshown said grooves are formed between the side margins of theyieldinglayer or pad F and strips a a applied to the base at either side of saidpad. Two of said grooves are provided in order that said cutting-surfaceplate may be turned end to end to present difierent surfaces thereof tothe action of the cutting-tool. Preferably, also, transverse strips a aare attached to the base at the ends of the cutting-bed, said stripsbeing flush with the layer or pad F and serving to support the ends ofthe shiftable plate which extend beyond said pad. The axis of the hingeO is by preference located slightly below the level of thecutting-surface of the plate E when the parts are assembled, so as toinsure clamping action between all parts of the pattern-plate and thecutting-surface when the free edge of the pattern-plate is presseddownagainst the cutting-bed either by the hand or by the clasps D.

Heretofore it has been the practice in cutting or trimming photographicprints to give proper form thereto preparatory to mounting to clamp theprint between a form or pattern plate such as herein shown and a cuttingblock or base by hand-pressure. This method of cutting the printrequires considerable skill on the part of the operator in order toprevent the print or pattern-plate from slipping during the cutting ortrimming operation. Moreover,-in case of large print it is often.necessary for the person doing the cutting or trimming to employ theservices of another person or helper to aid in holding the print inplace while being cut or trimmed. iVith my construction, on the otherhand, the print is mechanically clamped or held in place during thecutting operation either by pressure of one hand on the free edge of thepattern-plate or by the clasps D, and in the latter case both hands ofthe operator will be left free to manipulate the cutting-tool. When thepattern-plate is held .at its free edge by the hand and the clasps arenot used, the device will operate equally well to forcibly hold theprint, it being obvious that, inasmuch as the pattern-plate is heldpositively from lateral orsidewise motion through its 7 attachment tothe hinged clamp, nodisplacement of the print is liable to occur intheontting operation when the pattern-plate is so,

held. Moreover, by the use of the device rapidly than by the methodheretofore practiced and with greater ease to the person doing the work,it being obvious that the pattern-plate when held in the hinged clamp,as described, may be easily and quickly lifted or thrown back from thebase in removing f and inserting the prints and that the prints 7 L maybe quickly adjusted to the proper position beneath theplate, because theweight of the plate alone or a slight pressure thereon Will looselyconfine the print while beingadi.

justed to its proper place andstronger pres-' sure of the hand or theuse of the clasps will thereafter immovably clamp and 'hold the printwhile being out.

It will be understood that the soft-metal plate E is made thin enough topossess some ,3

flexibility, so that the pressure of the cuttingt-ool thereon causes theplate. to be slightly depressed into the cushioning pad or layer at thepoint of contact of the tool.

edge of the toolis depressed slightly below thegeneral level of theplate E, so that a sharp clean cut is assured;

A further advantage of the-yielding cutting-bed is that it permits theprint to be more efiectively clamped in place than would be true if suchbed be rigid. V The purpose of the soft-metal plate consti- The re-' 51sult of this construction is that the cutting toting the cutting-surfaceof the bed isto" r prevent the dulling of the cutting-tool b'y'f havingthe same brought into cutting contact with a hard surface. The shiftingof the plate in the manner described enablesalt parts of the same to bebrought under'the cutting-tool and all parts to receive equal 1,

wear, thereby efiectively avoiding'apossible objection to a soft-metalcutting-bed.

I claim as my invention 1. A device for the purpose stated compris ing asoft-metal shiftable plate forming the cutting-surface of the base, acushioningla-yer interposed between the cutting plate and the base, anda hinged clamp attachedtothe base and having clamping-jaws adapted todetachably engage one margin of an'a-pertn red pattern-plate.

2. A device for the purposestated compris= 7 ing a base, a hinged clampattached to the base andhavingwclamping-jaws adapted to detachablyengage one edge of an apertured pattern-plate, and means adapted'toengage 7 the opposite or free edge of said pattern-plate for clampingthe same upon the base.

3. A device for the purpose statedcompris- 7 ing a base, a hinged clampattached to said base and having clamping-jaws adapted to detachablyengage one edge of an apertured pattern-plate, and a spring-clasp on theside of the base opposite to the clamp adapted for engagement with theother or free edge of said pattern-plate.

4. A device for the purpose stated comprising a base provided with ashiftable cuttingbed, a clamp having hinged connection with said base atone side of said cutting-bed and adapted to detachably engage one edgeof an apertured pattern-plate, and a spring-clasp on the base at theopposite side of said outting-bed adapted to engage the free edge ofsaid pattern-plate.

5. A device for the purpose stated comprising a base, a yieldingcutting-bed, means attached to said base at one side of said bed fordetachably engaging one edge of an apertured pattern-plate, and ayielding clasp on the opposite side of the base adapted for engagementwith the other or free edge of said pattern-plate.

O. A device for the purpose stated comprising a base, a soft-metalshiftable plate forming the cutting-surface of the base, means locatedat one side of said base for detachably engaging one edge of anapertured patternplate, and a yielding clasp on the other side of saidbase adapted to engage the opposite or free edge of said pattern-plate.

7. A device for the purpose stated comprising a base, a soft-metalshiftable plate forming the cutting-surface of the base, a cushioninglayerinterposed between the cuttingplate and the base, means located onthe base at one side of said cutting-surface for detachably engaging oneedge of an apertured pattern-plate, and a clamp located on the base atthe otherside of said cutting-surface adapted to engage the opposite orfree edge of said pattern-plate.

8. A device for the purpose stated comprising a base, means for securinga pattern-plate upon the base, and a soft-metal plate forming thecutting-surface of the base, said plate being provided with a flangeadapted for engagement with a groove in the base.

9. A device for the purpose stated comprising a base, means for securinga pattern-plate to the base and a soft-metal plate forming thecutting-surface of the base, said plate being flanged and the base beingprovided with two parallel grooves to receive the flange on the bed.

10. A device for the purpose stated comprising a base provided with acutting-bed consisting of a yielding cushion and a flexible soft-metalplate thereon constituting the cutting-surface, and a hinged clampattached to the base and having clamping-jaws adapted to detachablyengage one margin ofan apertured pattern-plate.

11. A device for the purpose stated comprising a base provided with acutting-bed comprising a yielding cushion, and a flexible metallic plateconstituting the cutting-surface, means located on one side of the basefor detachably engaging one edge of an apertured pattern-plate, andclamping means located on the other side of said base and adapted forengagement with the opposite or free edge of said pattern-plate.

12. Adevice forthe purpose stated comprising a base provided with acutting-bed consisting of a yielding cushion, and. a flexible soft-metalplate constituting the cutting-surface of the bed and shiftable thereon,means located at one side of the base for detachably engaging one edgeof an apertured patternplate, and clamping means located on said baseadapted to engage the other or free edge of said pattern-plate.

13. A device for the purpose stated comprising a base provided with acutting-bed consisting of a yielding cushion and a flexible metallicplate constituting the cutting-surface, and a clamp hinged to the baseat one side of the bed having clamping-jaws adapted to detachably engageone margin of an apertured pattern-plate, the axis of the hinge of saidclamp being located below the plane of the cutting-surface of said bed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention I afifix mysignature, in presence of two witnesses, this 30th day of October, A. D.1900.

GEORGE E. WARD.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM L. HALL, GERTRUDE BRYCE.

